Looking Good

Boomers Seek The Fountain Of Youth

Most People Want To Put Forth The Best Face

March 22, 1992|By Linda Lipp.

Youth and beauty may be more than just skin deep, but appearances do count for a lot in our society. On the face of things, ``that may seem unfair, but that`s the way it is,`` said image consultant Frankie Walters of Palatine. ``If you take the word `image` and you dissect it, you find it applies to products, clothing, cars, our homes and our looks. It all comes down to, we are a visual society,`` Walters said. She teaches her clients hair-styling and makeup techniques that help give them a more youthful appearance. Beyond that, unfortunately, there is very little that any cosmetic on the market can do to restore the look of youthful, wrinkle-free skin.

``They package these things in a beautiful jar and they put a beautiful model with it and people want to believe it will work . . . but the truth is that none of it has been proven to work,`` said Highland Park dermatologist Aaron Dworin. Skin condition is a result of three factors: natural aging, genetics and exposure to the sun, Dworin noted. The first two are beyond an individual`s control, but avoiding exposure to the sun will help slow the aging process. ``It`s never too late. You can`t reverse the process, but you can stop the damage,`` he said.

A product known as Retin-A, which got a lot of publicity a few years ago, can help reduce some of the wrinkling associated with excessive exposure to the sun, Dworin said. But it makes the skin more photo-sensitive, and some users have experienced skin irritation.

Over-the-counter creams containing alpha-glycolic acids are the current rage. They may have a broader application and cause fewer problems than Retin- A, Dworin continued. ``The data isn`t in yet, but it does seem to work, though by a different mechanism, a chemical peeling agent,`` Dworin said.

Commercial moisturizers, on the other hand, just moisturize the skin;

they don`t remove wrinkles. Some also contain a mild irritant that causes the skin to puff up slightly and appear less wrinkled, ``but I had a wise professor who said you could do the same thing by slapping your face a couple of times,`` Dworin added.

Collagen injections beneath the skin can help alleviate deep surface furrows and wrinkle lines but have to be repeated every 6 to 18 months. Dworin said he is also concerned about the long-term effects the injections might have.

Liposuction, a surgical procedure in which excess fatty tissue is literally vacuumed out of the hips, thighs or other area, has become so popular that ``it is now considered the most common elective surgery in the United States,`` Bloch said. Men, as well as women, are seeking the aid of plastic surgeons in growing numbers. Males now make up about 20 percent of his patients, Bloch added.

The downside to plastic surgery is its cost and the fact that most insurance companies won`t cover the procedures unless they are reconstructive. A simple lift of the eyelids can cost from $3,500 to $4,000; a facelift, $6,000; lipsosuction, $2,000 to $5,000; and a tummy tuck, $6,500. Though many procedures are done on an outpatient basis, some may require a short hospital stay, which adds to the cost, Bloch noted.

While some physicians may advertise themselves as cosmetic surgeons, people considering plastic surgery should also make sure their doctor is board certified in plastic and reconstructive surgery, Bloch added.